Is it a sin for a 77 year old to tune down his mandolin to E-B-F#-C# for ease of play, only play for my own amusement, been away from MC for a few years.
Is it a sin for a 77 year old to tune down his mandolin to E-B-F#-C# for ease of play, only play for my own amusement, been away from MC for a few years.
Treetopper
1. Not a sin; whatever floats thy boat.
2. Might want to investigate a better set-up, lighter gauge strings, other expedients. You could want to play with other musicians at some point, play along with a recording, etc.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
An alternative mando for old hands: a 'ukulele strung in 5ths. A concert-size 'uke's fretboard is just a bit larger than most mandolins. A set of Aquila Concert Fifths Nylgut strings costs a few bucks and plays nicely, good for playing quietly without waking-up anyone, and is very easy on the fingers.
Mandos: Coleman & Soviet ovals; Kay & Rogue A5's; Harmonia F2 & mandola
Ukuleles: 3 okay tenors; 3 cheap sopranos; Harmonia concert & baritone
Banjos: Gretsch banjolin; Varsity banjolele; Orlando 5-string; fretless & fretted Cümbüs o'uds
Acoustic guitars: Martin Backpacker; Ibanez Performance; Art et Lutherie; Academy dobro; Ovation 12-string
Others: Maffick & First Act dulcimers; Mexican cuatro-menor; Puerto Rican cuatro; Martin tiple; electrics
Wanted: charango; balalaika; bowlback mando
It's only been 7 years, welcome back!
"It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
--M. Stillion
"Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
--J. Garber
Better yet, this:
http://www.amazon.com/Aquila-30U-Uku.../dp/B005WFTJPK
Aquila 30U Ukulele SOPRANO in Violin/Mandolin Fifths Tuning - GDAE
A couple of sets and Bob's yer uncle, so to speak...
Also possible to buy nylon single strings and make a mandolin set. I'm using .033W, .024W,.034,.024 D'Addario singles on my mandolinetto.
Those are on my second Kohala soprano... which, like my other sopranos, only has 12 frets. Hard to do some serious mando-type picking there. Concerts (usually?) have more frets and a little wider neck, easier for old fingers. For even more fun, and to FORCE one to concentrate on chording rather than melodic playing, just flip the re-entrant strings on a 'uke and tweak the tuning slightly. Flip gCEa to a#fCg and voila! Use those mando chord forms and wail.
Mandos: Coleman & Soviet ovals; Kay & Rogue A5's; Harmonia F2 & mandola
Ukuleles: 3 okay tenors; 3 cheap sopranos; Harmonia concert & baritone
Banjos: Gretsch banjolin; Varsity banjolele; Orlando 5-string; fretless & fretted Cümbüs o'uds
Acoustic guitars: Martin Backpacker; Ibanez Performance; Art et Lutherie; Academy dobro; Ovation 12-string
Others: Maffick & First Act dulcimers; Mexican cuatro-menor; Puerto Rican cuatro; Martin tiple; electrics
Wanted: charango; balalaika; bowlback mando
Nope, not a sin. If it works for you, it's better than not playing at all for sure. Welcome back!
For wooden musical fun that doesn't involve strumming, check out:
www.busmanwhistles.com
Handcrafted pennywhistles in exotic hardwoods.
Bookmarks